Editing Islam

'''Islam''' is an Abrahamic and monotheistic religion based on the teachings of [[Muhammad]] and the writings contained in the Quran. It is the major religion of up to 49 countries in the northern part of the [[Africa|African continent]], the [[Middle East]], [[South Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]], with the majority of Muslims located in [[Asia]].<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Pew Research Center|title=Muslim-Majority Countries|date=2011-01-27|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-muslim-majority/|retrieved=2022-11-24|quote=As of 2010, there are 49 countries in which Muslims comprise more than 50% of the population. A total of 1.2 billion Muslims live in these nations, representing 74% of the global Muslim population of 1.6 billion.}}</ref> It shares many features with [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]] such as the prophets Abraham and Moses.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|author=Neil Faulkner|year=2013|title=A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals|chapter=The End of Antiquity|page=58–59|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacedljwr5izotdclz23o3c5p4di4t3ero3ncbfytip55slhiz4otuls?filename=Neil%20Faulkner%20-%20A%20Marxist%20History%20of%20the%20World_%20From%20Neanderthals%20to%20Neoliberals-Pluto%20Press%20%282013%29.pdf|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=9781849648639|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=91CA6C708BFE15444FE27899217FBA8E}}</ref> There are about 1.8 million Muslims in the world.<ref>{{Web citation|date=2023-07-10|title=Burning the Quran and the Counter-Offensive: Why the West Is Panicking|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/burning-quran-counter-offensive-west-panicking/285240/|newspaper=[[MintPress News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712173258/https://www.mintpressnews.com/burning-quran-counter-offensive-west-panicking/285240/|archive-date=2023-07-12|author=Ramzy Baroud}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Muhammad ===
Muhammad founded Islam in 620 when he told a small group of followers that he had seen visions and that God (Allah) had spoken to him. He was driven out of Mecca in 622 and fled to Medina, where he formed a mass movement. He and his army returned to Mecca in 630 and took control of western-central Arabia, but Muhammad died in 632.<ref name=":02" />

=== Rashidun Caliphate ===
Muhammad's first two successors, [[Abu Bakr]] and [[Umar]], directed their armies against the [[Empire of Iranians (224–651)|Persian]] and [[Byzantium|Byzantine]] empires, who had already been weakened by massive wars. Islam quickly spread, with Muslims conquering Damascus ([[Syrian Arab Republic|Syria]]), Ctesiphon ([[Republic of Iraq|Iraq]]), Cairo, and Alexandria ([[Arab Republic of Egypt|Egypt]]) by 642. Their use of camels allowed them to easily travel across deserts and ambush larger armies. Muslim rulers tolerated previous religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and [[Zoroastrianism]], although many of their followers converted. Muslim rule usually increased quality of life as taxes were lowered and [[Landlord|landlords]] fled.<ref name=":02" /> The second, third, and fourth caliphs (Umar, [[Uthman]], and [[Ali]]) were all murdered, and Mu'awiya took power in 661 following a civil war and founded the [[Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)|Umayyad Caliphate]].<ref name=":022">{{Citation|author=Neil Faulkner|year=2013|title=A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals|chapter=The Medieval World|page=61–62|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacedljwr5izotdclz23o3c5p4di4t3ero3ncbfytip55slhiz4otuls?filename=Neil%20Faulkner%20-%20A%20Marxist%20History%20of%20the%20World_%20From%20Neanderthals%20to%20Neoliberals-Pluto%20Press%20%282013%29.pdf|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=9781849648639|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=91CA6C708BFE15444FE27899217FBA8E}}</ref>

=== Umayyad Caliphate ===
The Umayyads took power in 661 and held power for a century while developing strong literature, art, and [[agriculture]].<ref name=":022" /> They conquered Kabul in what is now [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] in 664. Their armies quickly crossed North Africa and invaded Spain, which they fully controlled by 711.<ref name=":02" />

=== Abbasid Caliphate ===
In 750, [[Abu al-Abbas]] led a revolution against the Umayyads and established the [[Abbasid Caliphate (750–1517)|Abbasid Caliphate]].<ref name=":022" />

== Divisions ==
Sunni Muslims support Mu'awiya, the cousin of the third caliph Uthman, while Shi'ites support the fourth caliph Ali and his son Husayn, who also died in the civil war.<ref name=":022" />

=== Wahhabism ===
Wahhabism is a reactionary form of Islam created by [[Muhammad ibn Abd-al Wahhab]] in the 18th century. It seeks to return to the conditions of the seventh century and is supported by the [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|Saudi monarchy]].<ref name=":1222">{{Citation|author=[[Vijay Prashad]]|year=2008|title=The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World|chapter=Mecca|page=261|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzaceascnzh26r5d6uitjjs2z7rflhaxlt7rboz5whzdf76qg6xxvecqq?filename=%28A%20New%20Press%20People%27s%20history%29%20Vijay%20Prashad%20-%20The%20darker%20nations_%20a%20people%27s%20history%20of%20the%20third%20world-The%20New%20Press%20%282008%29.pdf|publisher=The New Press|isbn=9781595583420|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=9B40B96E830128A7FE0E0E887C06829F}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Stubs]]
[[Category:Religions]]